Dwarf plants give giant impact to landscaping

The dwarf deodar cedar "Feelin' Blue," is a low-growing shrub that grows to just 2 feet tall and 6 feet wide. (Photo courtesy of Ellen Goff)

Are you looking ideas for a low-maintenance landscape with big impact? Consider dwarf plants, such as cherry trees, scrubs and evergreens, which can help your yard look better longer with minimal maintenance.

Learn about your homeowner's association before you buy

If you drive through a development and don't see any RVs or basketball hoops, odds are they're not allowed by the homeowner's association, and judges aren't sympathetic.

Why old fuel is bad for your lawn mower

By having your mower inspected each year before you need it, you can ensure it will run properly once you’re ready to start it up and extend its life. (Photo by Grant Smith)

Dear Angie: I purchased a new lawn mower last summer. Now, after sitting in the garage for the winter, it won’t start. What could be the problem?

Location is key for vegetable gardens

Your vegetable garden should thrive if planted in the right location.

Thinking of building a vegetable garden? Professional gardener, Larisa Code, provides tips on selecting a location for a backyard vegetable garden.

Landscape Mulch Delivery

Mulch and topsoil

Applying mulch is a great way to refresh your landscapes. (Photo courtesy of McCarty Mulch & Stone)
Mulch can be a lot of different things, but at its core it exists as a material that is applied to landscaping, walking paths and flower beds for aesthetic purposes, to suppress weed growth, retain moisture and supply nutrients to soil through decay. Topsoil is the nutrient-rich, uppermost layer of soil that is ideal for gardening and planting.

Give your yard a mulch makeover

Handyman Tim Anderson uses a wheelbarrow to dump mulch.

Have you ever wondered what is in mulch, or how much mulch to buy? Angie's List spoke to McCarty Mulch & Stone of Indianapolis about the different types of mulch, avoiding the mulch volcano and whether you should buy mulch by the bag or the yard.

Expert answers air duct cleaning questions

A highly rated air duct cleaner in the Los Angeles area answers commonly asked questions about air duct cleaning.

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Roto Tilling Service

Rototillers

A full-size rototiller takes some strength to handle.
A rototiller is an efficient tool for breaking up large areas of soil for planting and cultivation. This guide provides tips for operating a rototiller, ideal soil conditions for tilling and hiring a professional.

Rototilling nourishes spring gardens

A rototiller is an efficient tool for starting a new garden.

Rototilling is a great way to prepare gardens and flower beds for spring planting.

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Tree Service

Tree care and services

Trees grow slowly so you can't afford to make a mistake by planting them in the wrong location or overlooking something that puts the tree at risk. Tree care is something most homeowners can do on their own, but an expert should be called if a tree is showing signs of disease or if limbs need to be removed.

Living with trees in the Pacific Northwest

Oops! This Christmas tree is too big for the house. (Photo courtesy of Teresa Chilelli-White of ASC DEvelopment)

Large trees like Douglas firs provide wonderful benefits for your yard, but the bigger they are, the harder they fall. A Seattle-area contractor offers tips to make sure your trees are healthy and not prone to falling over.

Lessons from the Bradford pear trees

Once mature, Bradford pear trees often split apart. (Photo courtesy of David Lusk of Lusk Tree Care Services)

Planted extensively in the ’80s and ’90s, the Bradford pear tree became a dominant feature in many subdivisions, on commercial properties and in parking lots. All was well until 15 or more years after planting.

How much does it cost to hire a tree service?

Removing a tree is the most expensive service, and typically includes cutting it down section by section, then hauling away the pieces. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Kathleen L. of Keizer, Ore.)

Dealing with an overgrown or dying tree in your yard can be a hassle. Professional services offer an easy way to deal with tree issues, but at a cost. Here's what to expect when you hire a pro.

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Greenhouses

How to select the right trees for optimum curb appeal

Native dogwoods take center stage in the landscape with their spring blooms and fall color. (Photo courtesy of Ellen Goff)

Increase your home’s curb appeal by choosing trees that play up the existing beauty of the property, while leveraging opportunities to expand the desire of potential buyers.

Northwestern homeowners go vertical with gardens

Living walls resemble a garden, in that the initial plant size and spacing is not necessarily indicative of how the wall will look a few months after the installation.
Photo courtesy of SolTerra Systems

Green building advocates incorporate vertical green walls to home gardens.

Seeds need a good start for success

Keep these things in mind this winter when you start your seeds for spring planting.

Tips to plant, maintain a blueberry bush

Varieties of blueberry plants have been developed for West Coast inhabitants to grow and enjoy.

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Lakefront Landscaper

Learn about your homeowner's association before you buy

If you drive through a development and don't see any RVs or basketball hoops, odds are they're not allowed by the homeowner's association, and judges aren't sympathetic.

Recycle leaf waste for healthier plants

Gardening writer C.L. Fornari focuses on the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. She gives advice on how you can put your bags of fallen leaves to good use as organic fertilizer.Recycle leaf waste for healthier plants. 

Fall lettuce a tasty treat for Southeast gardeners

Ellen Goff, a gardening writer for Angie’s List, gives tips on growing cool-weather greens in your Southeast landscape.

Plant bulbs in fall for great color in spring

Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, editor of Indiana Living Green magazine, director of the Garden Writers Association and gardening columnist for Angie’s List Magazine gives tips on planting bulbs during the early fall for best results in the spring.

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Land Surveyor

Why land surveys are crucial for home buyers

A land survey clearly identifies property boundaries, which can help prevent future headaches such as property line disputes. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Steven B. of Concord, N.C.)

Land surveys can help property buyers avoid future headaches such as boundary disputes. A highly rated Alabama-based land surveyor provider explains how.

Fall planting tips for the Southwest

Jacqueline Soule, who writes about gardening in the Southwest for Angie’s List, explains why fall planting is crucial for better plant growth.

Is surveying your property worth the cost?

Don't trust fences or estimates. Before you buy or build, hire a land surveyor to make sure your property is properly measured.

Tips to work well with Contractors | Angies List, Angie's List

Contractors say homeowners with this trait are the most satisfied with home improvment projects.

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Lawn Service

Learn about your homeowner's association before you buy

If you drive through a development and don't see any RVs or basketball hoops, odds are they're not allowed by the homeowner's association, and judges aren't sympathetic.

How to avoid door to door sales scams in Indianapolis

Mary-Kris McWhinney of Carmel discusses a job with Ping’s foreman Jesse Hunt. (Photo by Brandon Smith)

Take time, know your rights, and don’t sign or pay for anything until details of a services or wares contract are clearly spelled out and agreed upon.

How to dethatch your lawn

Dethatching keeps your grass healthy and enhances the beauty of your lawn. (Photo courtesy of Lawn Thumbs)

When was the last time you dethatched your lawn? Chances are you haven't. One Utah lawncare expert examines the best, and worst, methods of dethatching to make your lawn healthier and more attractive.

How to lay sod and sow seed in the Midwest

Kirkwood Landscaping owner Jim Sutterer’s lawn is fescue sod and he increases the nutrients in the soil by regularly applying a thin layer of compost. (Photos courtesy of Jim Sutterer)

Despite the last two summers' drought conditions, homeowners have many options to lay sod or reseed their lawns. Get tips on sowing grass seed and laying sod.

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Fountain Installer

Fountains

A fountain or water feature can help create a tranquil setting in any landscape. (Photo courtesy of Heather Krieves)
Fountains can add a tranquil component to any backyard landscape or outdoor living space. Learn what styles are available and what it takes to have one installed in your yard.

Explore the wonders of a home water feature

Flowing water creates a welcoming entrance at a Hilton Head home. (Photo courtesy of Island Environments)

Angie's List contractors discuss home water features that can liven up your yard, such as fountains, ponds and waterfalls.

Winterize your ponds and fountains

©iStockphoto.com | Be sure to leave an open space in ponds and water gardens where fish can get oxygen.

Jo Ellen Myers Sharp, the Hoosier Gardener, gives advice on how to winterize water features in the yard. Preparing features such as water gardens, ponds, waterfalls for winter helps avoid damage from freezing and thawing water.

Tips to work well with Contractors | Angies List, Angie's List

Contractors say homeowners with this trait are the most satisfied with home improvment projects.

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Lawn Irrigation

Worst Charlotte Contractors of 2012

Angie's List names the Worst Charlotte Contractors of 2012.

7 tips to save your lawn from drought

Landscape irrigation accounts for as much as half of all water used during warm weather months, especially when homeowners are trying to keep their lawns from turning brown.

Get wise about lawn irrigation and water conservation

A properly working sprinkler system will nourish the lawn. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Curtis)

Droughts and mandatory watering restrictions in the southeastern United States should convince homeowners to consider the most efficient ways to irrigate their lawns.

Solving problems and saving lawns

Rain One Irrigation Systems in Blacklick, Ohio, dominates in design, installation and maintenance of irrigation and drainage systems.

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Paving Contractor

Learn about your homeowner's association before you buy

If you drive through a development and don't see any RVs or basketball hoops, odds are they're not allowed by the homeowner's association, and judges aren't sympathetic.

Stonemason adds poetry to walkway and fire pit

"We settled upon a colorful mix of Pennsylvania sandstone, accentuated with bands of reclaimed antique granite street cobbles." (Photo courtesy of Matt L. of Portland, Ore.)

The Portland family wanted to add some unique outdoor elements to their new home. So they hired Matt Goddard of Poetry in Stone to install a path and a backyard seating area with a sunken fire pit.

Fire pit pros and cons: Gas vs. wood

Whether you install a wood-burning fire pit or a gas-powered such as this one, a fire pit can add ambiance and entertainment to your outdoor living area. (Photo courtesy of Strictly Stone)

If you're considering installing a fire pit in your outdoor living area one of the first questions you'll need to answer is wood-burning or gas-powered? A highly rated hardscape installer shares his pros and cons.

10 questions to ask when hiring a paver patio installation contractor

Asking your landscaping pro the right questions before installation work begins will help ensure you can enjoy your new paver patio for years to come. (Photo courtesy of Landscape East & West)

If you're thinking about hiring a landscape professional to design or install a new patio, don't forget to ask these questions suggested by a highly rated Portland, Ore.-area landscaping firm.

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Lawn Treatment

Learn about your homeowner's association before you buy

If you drive through a development and don't see any RVs or basketball hoops, odds are they're not allowed by the homeowner's association, and judges aren't sympathetic.

How to get rid of lawn grubs

The yellow and brown spots are caused by grubs feeding on lawn roots. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Jeffrey G. of Greensboro, N.C.)

Dear Angie: What is the best way to deal with lawn grubs? I am in Maine and they are getting worse every year, along with the crows and skunks that are tearing up the sod to eat them.

Homeowners reveal lawn care scams and shoddy service

Angie’s List member Carolyn S. of Henderson, Nev., said her lawn turned brown three months after a lawn care company started fertilizing it. When she confronted her technician, he blamed the damage on rabbits.

Angie's List members report multiple instances of lawn care scams, sloppy work and horrible customer service. Avoid a scam and find tips for hiring a high-quality lawn fertilization and treatment service.

How to prevent weeds with pre-emergent herbicide

Using a pre-emergent herbicide application can help you achieve the lush, green lawn of your dreams. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Susan P. of Palm Harbor, Fla.)

A highly rated Dallas lawn treatment and fertilization company explains why pre-emergent herbicides are an essential step necessary for achieving the lush, green lawn of your dreams.

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Landscape Lighting

Learn about your homeowner's association before you buy

If you drive through a development and don't see any RVs or basketball hoops, odds are they're not allowed by the homeowner's association, and judges aren't sympathetic.

Rainwater harvesting can help reduce pollutants

An expert's take on the benefits of rainwater harvesting

Plant spring-flowering bulbs in the fall

For a colorful bounty in spring, get flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils and grape hyacinth in the ground in fall.

Patio-enhancing fire pits

David Arroyo, president of highly rated Strictly Stone in Volo, Ill., advises homeowners on installing a patio fire pit.

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Lawn Mower Repair

Lawn mower repair

The average suburban lawn mower is a true workhorse, but you might not be maintaining it as well as you should. Here are some practical tips on troubleshooting common problems, how to make some repairs yourself and how to maintain your mower so it keeps performing well year after year.

Why old fuel is bad for your lawn mower

By having your mower inspected each year before you need it, you can ensure it will run properly once you’re ready to start it up and extend its life. (Photo by Grant Smith)

Dear Angie: I purchased a new lawn mower last summer. Now, after sitting in the garage for the winter, it won’t start. What could be the problem?

How to tune up and maintain a lawn mower

An annual tuneup should keep your lawn mower in top shape and prevent expensive repairs. (Photo by Katie Jacewicz)

Are you thinking of tuning up your lawn mower? Check out this step-by-step guide to DIY lawn mower tuneup complete with instructions on how to change the spark plug, replace the air filter, drain the oil and sharpen the blade.

8 maintenance tips to keep your lawn mower running

Regular, preventive maintenance will prolong the life of your lawn mower. (Photo by Katie Jacewicz)

Eight maintenance tips to keep your lawn mower running all year.

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Leaf Removal Service

Hire landscaping pros for leaf removal

A shallow collection of dried leaves on the lawn is usually not damaging to grass. (Photo courtesy of Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp)

Save time and avoid aches and pains by hiring a professional to clean up your landscape by removing leaves and lawn debris.

Learn the best ways to rake leaves

Check out these tips to take care of the unfavorable chore.

Let the pros help keep your fall lawn leaf free

Contact a professional lawn service company to have your leaves blown in the fall. (Photo courtesy of Kathleen Koechlin)

Angie's List members commonly utilize professional lawn services in the fall. Let the pros rid your lawn of leaves.

Guidelines for overwintering plants

NORTHEAST: New England professional gardeners say overwintering some varieties of annuals is a good idea, but others may not keep well indoors.

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